Student Breaches of the Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Harmful Substances Policy

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The paramount objective of the board of St Joseph's School is to ensure that every student at the school is able to attain their highest possible standard in educational achievement. To meet the paramount objective, the board meets the supporting objective of ensuring that the school is a physically and emotionally safe place (Education and Training Act, s 127). Potential student impairment by alcohol, drugs, or other harmful substances at school poses a risk to teachers, students, and the potentially impaired student, and the school has an obligation to manage this risk.

To meet our responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff, we use our student wellbeing and behaviour management policies to guide our response to possible and known student breaches of the school Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Harmful Substances Policy. We follow our Privacy Policy at all times.

What constitutes a breach

A breach of the Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Harmful Substances Policy by a student involves being at risk of impairment by alcohol, drugs, and other harmful substances while on school grounds or during school-related activities, and while wearing school uniform. This includes consuming or using alcohol, drugs, or other harmful substances before or during school-related activities, or possessing or supplying alcohol, drugs, and other harmful substances (including related items such as pipes). See Policy requirements in Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Harmful Substances Policy.

A breach may also include:

refusal to agree to a search of personal property, with no satisfactory explanation
admission of alcohol and/or drug use during a disciplinary process.

See Students in Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Harmful Substances Policy.

Students must not attend school or school-related activities where there is a risk that they are impaired due to having consumed or used alcohol, drugs, or other harmful substances before school or any school-related activity.

Responding to possible breaches

St Joseph's School promptly investigates all concerns about possible student breaches of the Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Harmful Substances Policy and responds on a case-by-case basis.

Possible breaches may be identified by:

observable behaviours or symptoms that may suggest alcohol, drug, and/or harmful substance use, including attendance and/or achievement issues
This may include:
- cognitive signs (e.g. distracted, slurred speech, memory issues, poor judgement)
- behavioural signs (e.g. unexplained absences, early departures or late arrivals, regular lateness, violent behaviour)
- physical signs (e.g. smelling of alcohol and/or drugs, changes in appearance, appearing off balance or clumsy)
- emotional signs and changes in personality (e.g. sudden mood changes, irritability, outbursts).
reports from a credible source, including someone witnessing a student using or possessing alcohol, drugs, or other harmful substances (or related items such as pipes) at school
accident or injury (including near misses) – see Recording and Reporting Accidents, Injuries, and Illness.

An investigation may determine that the Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Harmful Substances Policy has not been breached but that a student still needs wellbeing support, or it may determine that a breach has a satisfactory explanation. In such circumstances, we may follow our processes for responding to low-risk or high risk concerns or situations. See Responding to Student Wellbeing Concerns.

Responding to an incident that takes place at school

If there is an incident at school involving alcohol, drugs, or other harmful subtances, we:

ensure the safety of any student(s) involved by determining what was consumed/used, when and how much, and if any medication has also been taken
ensure the safety of all students and staff (e.g. move others away)
may request a search and the surrender of relevant item(s) (e.g. alcohol, drugs, other harmful substances, related items such as pipes) – see Searches, Surrender, and Retention of Property
may contact emergency services if a student or another person is at risk of immediate harm
may use physical restraint (only by teachers or authorised staff members and only to prevent imminent harm, if all other conditions are met) – see Minimising Physical Restraint
may communicate with the police, as appropriate.

We recognise that an incident involving alcohol, drugs, or other harmful substances can impact other students, and we support affected students as appropriate. See Supporting Student Wellbeing

Managing known breaches

If an investigation determines that a student has breached the Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Harmful Substances Policy, we may manage the breach by:

contacting parents/caregivers and informing them of the breach
working with the student, parents/caregivers, and relevant agencies, as appropriate, to arrange support for the student both at school and outside school
actioning our behaviour management, and stand-down, suspension, and exclusion procedures, as necessary.

Support

We take all reasonable steps to support the student and help them engage and succeed at school. This may include developing a support plan for the student, which may involve monitoring their behaviour and wellbeing. Any support plan is kept confidential and only shared with those who have a need to know.

Recording concerns and breaches

All concerns, breaches, and actions taken are reported to the appropriate staff members and recorded in our school management system. We follow our Privacy Policy at all times.

Related policies

Legislation

Education and Training Act 2020
Privacy Act 2020

Hei mihi | Acknowledgement

SchoolDocs appreciates the input of Rebecca Laney, associate at Anderson Lloyd Dunedin, in the legal review of this policy.

Release history: Term 4 2025, Term 3 2023, Term 2 2019, Term 4 2018

Topic Number: 8558	Last Modified Date: 01/12/2025 10:24:45
Topic Version: 3	Published Date: 30/01/2026

Last review	Term 4 2022
Topic type	Core